State to release 30,000 pheasants, including in Canton, Louisville, Macomb, for season starting Oct. 1

Thursday, September 16, 2010 - 9:09 am

Roughly 30,000 adult pheasants will be released on New York lands open to public hunting for the upcoming fall pheasant hunting season.

In St. Lawrence County, the birds will be released in the Town of Canton at Upper and Lower Lakes Wildlife Management Area, in Louisville at the Wilson Hill Wildlife Management Area, and in Macomb at Fish Creek Wildlife Management Area.

The pheasant hunting season begins on Oct. 1 in northern and eastern portions of New York. New pheasant hunting regulations this fall include longer hunting seasons in most areas and more wildlife management units open to taking both cocks and hens.

For the fourth consecutive year, junior hunters 12 to 15 years old have the opportunity to hunt pheasants the weekend before the regular season. In northern and eastern New York, the youth pheasant hunt weekend is Sept. 25-26.

Boundaries for pheasant hunting zones conform to Wildlife Management Units used for management of other upland wildlife. Wildlife Management Unit boundary descriptions can be found at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8302.html.

Hunters who plan to use private lands should ask permission from the landowner, DEC says.